Market Place

Digital Access

Home Delivery

Want to make sure you receive the latest local news? We’ve got you covered! Get the best in local news, sports, community events, with focus on what’s coming up for the weekend. Weekly mail subscription offers

Parade kicks off North Aurora Days

Families check out Kane County Sheriff’s Office vehicles Friday at Tinsel Town before the start of the North Aurora emergency vehicle lights and sirens parade. BELOW: The parade heads north on Route 31 from Tinsel Town.

North Aurora Days got started in a loud fashion Friday with the emergency vehicle lights and sirens parade. More emergency vehicles will be on display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Chicagoland Emergency Vehicle Show at Pentair Water and Oberweis Dairy near Interstate 88 and Randall Road.

Hannah and her parents, Amber and Keith Bartelmey, had a prime spot to view the parade as it passed Clocktower Plaza. The family has been going to the festival for the past several years.

“I just like the community aspect,” Amber Bartelmey said. “You get to see a lot of friends.”

She is a member of the North Aurora Mothers Club, which operates a beer tent at the festival with the North Aurora Lions Club.

“That’s one of our two biggest fundraisers of the year,” Bartelmey said.

The festival offered activities, such as a 24-foot climbing wall, for children. Sami Wood, 10, of North Aurora wasn’t scared as she scaled the wall.

“I’ve done some rock climbing before,” Sami said.

Neither was her brother, Christopher, 11.

“I’ve been higher,” he said. “It wasn’t that hard.”

Vincent Diaz, 6½, of North Aurora urged his father, Marvin Diaz, to take a picture as he rode on a camel.

“It’s something new to him,” Marvin Diaz said. “He’s never been on a camel before.”

North Aurora Days will offer other activities today and Sunday. Huntoon Stables at 507 Oak St. will offer free horse rides from 4 to 5 p.m. today for children ages 12 and under.

The North Aurora pet parade is also part of the festival. Registration and lineup for the parade starts at 1 p.m. Sunday at the North Aurora Activity Center at the corner of Lincolnway and State Street.

At 2 p.m., participants will parade across the State Street bridge to the gazebo at North Island Park.

There are planned road closures and detours of which the public should be aware. Go to www.vil.north-aurora.il.us/police/pdf/2012-north-aurora-days.pdf to download the traffic and parking guide in PDF format.

A full schedule of events is at www.northauroradays.com.

Get the news sent to your inbox

Don't miss out on the latest news from Kane County. Get our free newsletters today.